Just like other studies, Hebrew and Greek words and their meanings are derived from Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible with Dictionaries and Lexicons at StudyLight.org. To begin this study, please read 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8.

(2 Th 2:1-8 KJV) "Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, {2} That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. {3} Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; {4} Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. {5} Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? {6} And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. {7} For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. {8} And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:"

Overview of Verses One through Six

IIn verse one, Paul, Silvanus and Timotheus (1:1) earnestly beseech the Thessalonians brethren concerning the coming of the Lord and our gathering together unto Him. In verse two, they were told to "...be not soon shaken in mind...as that the day of Christ is at hand"-as if that day had already come. In verse three, they were warned to let no man deceived (Mat 24:11) them by any means, for that day will not come, "except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed...." An O.T. reference to verse three that will help its understanding is Daniel 8:23.

(Dan 8:23 KJV) "And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up."

In 2 Thessalonians 2:3, "...a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition" before that day (of Christ) will come. And in Daniel 8:23, "...when the transgressors are come to the full, a king...shall stand up." There is some commonality between the two passages.

In 2:3, the Greek word for "falling" as well as "away" is apostasia (G646), defined defection from the truth, a falling away, apostasy, and was translated "forsake" in Act 21:21.

Note: "Falling away" does not mean the Church is secretly taken.

And in Daniel 8:23, the Hebrew word for "transgressors" is pasha' (H6586), defined to rebel, revolt, to break away from just authority, that is to trespass, apostatize, quarrel, and in other verses was translated "offended, rebelled, revolt, transgressed" and etc.

Both words, one from the Greek and one from the Hebrew, have apostasy in their meanings, which will contribute toward understanding the meaning of 2 Thessalonians 2:7 and will help describe an awful period when there will be a falling away and that son of perdition comes on the scene.

Those who fall away could include some pretending Christian who will become offended (enticed to sin, apostatize) when tribulation or persecution comes because of the Word, and fall away in time of temptation. Something you will learn more about farther into this study.

What Jesus said, "...iniquity [lawlessness, wickedness, transgression, unrighteousness] shall abound..." (Mat 24:12 KJV), and it will be as the days of Noah (Mat 24:37-39) and as the days Lot (Luke 17:26-30), will help us to understand that awful period even more. We can see a gradual falling into lawlessness and wicked lifestyles. Lawlessness and wickedness are gaining acceptance by so many. They are becoming the right of many; and in their minds, the right and righteous are becoming the wrongs.

Some things that are denied by many and are explicitly shown in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 will happen before the glorious return of Christ and our gathering together unto Him. Many Christians seem to believe the one many call the Antichrist (1 John 2:18) will be ruling during the Great Tribulation. That being true, then what is understood from verses one through three is Christ comes after the Tribulation and not before. Our gathering together is the Rapture when we will receive resurrected bodies.

Note: When Jesus appears the second time (Heb 9:28) for the first resurrection, God is bringing with Him the Saints (1 Th 3:13; Jude 1:14) who sleep in Jesus (1 Th 4:13-15) -- souls (Rev 6:9, 20:4-5) which are in heaven. All believers will be changed (1 Cor 15:51-53); the dead first, than those who are alive and remain [left], we will be caught up together with them in the clouds (1 Th 4:16-18).

Then, verse four describes some things the man of sin, son of perdition (in which Antiochus Epiphanes was a type) rises to do, "Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped..." (2 Th 2:4 KJV). Daniel 11:36-37 is a good O.T. reference to that verse.

(2 Th 2:4 KJV) "Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God."

(Dan 11:36-37 KJV) "And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done. {37} Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all."

I get the feeling Paul received some understanding from Daniel before writing 2 Thessalonians chapter 2. According to verses five and six, the Thessalonians were told things before (similar to what Jesus did in Matthew 24:25) when Paul was yet with them, and now knew what withholds that the son of perdition might be revealed in his time.

(2 Th 2:5-6) "Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? {6} And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.

Taken verse seven out of context

Some of the information in this study has been removed and re-edited, and is included in the "Last Trump Gathering Bible Studies Volume One." Some links may not work. Please forgive me for the inconvenience. Thank you for viewing these studies.

With love in Christ!
Al

References:

(1) Mat 8:28-34; Mark 1:23-26, 34, 5:1-20; Luke 4:33-36, 41, 8:26-39